Adjustable shoring system or the like

ABSTRACT

An adjustable shoring system includes base frames, extension frames which are vertically adjustable with respect to the base frames in a series of incremental steps, and gooser braces extending between headers on the extension frames and on the opposite base frames. The extension and base frames are each provided with two vertically spaced headers; and the headers on the extension frames are spaced apart a distance equal to one step of adjustment while the headers on the base frames are spaced apart a distance equal to two steps, as the result of which gooser braces of the same length can be used for each of a series of four steps of adjustment.

United States Patent [/1969 Kasmach.................,.4.. 182/]78Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado [72] Inventor Robert F. GrayBrookfield, Wis. [21 Appl. No. 39,628 [22] Filed May 22, 1970 [45]Patented Sept. 14, i971 [73] Assignee A-T-O, lnc.

Milwaukee, Wis.

[54] ADJUSTABLE SHORING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

frames and on the opposite base frames. The extension and base framesare each provided with two vertically spaced headers; and the headers onthe extension frames are spaced 6 8 m7 I 2 4 0 1 E h c m S i 0 d l k F W5 .l.

17952/637 apart a distance equal to one step of adjustment while theheaders on the base frames are spaced apart a distance equal [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1965Squire..........................

to two steps, as the result of which gooser braces of the same lengthcan be used for each of a series of four steps of adjustment.

PATENTEU saw 4 |97I 1% lll v 7 w x? INVENTOR ROBERT F. GRAY ATTORNEYADJUSTABLE SHORING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to adjustable shoring or scaffolding systems or thelike, and particularly to a system providing for bracing betweenadjustable extension frames and base frames.

It is common in adjustable shoring systems to have extension frames thatare vertically adjustable with respect to base frames in a series ofincremental steps. Most often, this is accomplished by having verticallegs of the extension frames telescopically received in vertical legs ofthe base frames. The base frame legs are provided with a verticallyspaced series of holes, and pins placed through the holes support thelegs of the extension frame in the desired position.

It is also conventional to provide for some sort of bracing between eachextension frame and the base frame opposite it, this being moreessential as the extension frame is extended further. Heretofore,however, it has been difficult to accomplish the required bracingwithout using extra or unduly expensive parts. It is possible, forexample, to provide fixed points of attachment for braces on theextension and base frames, but this necessitates using braces ofdifferent lengths as the extension frames are extended.

Another presently available system in effect uses the pins which supportthe extension frames as points of attachment for the braces, and sincethe pins are moved for each step of adjustment the brace attachmentpoint is also moved so that the same length brace can be used for eachposition. While this latter system is generally satisfactory, itrequires the use of expensive adapter pins. Further, with such a systemit is impossible without improvisation to brace two opposite extensionframes at different heights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates a system in whichconventional gooser braces extending between attachment points on thebase and extension frames provide effective bracing. Pairs of attachmentpoints are provided on each frame, and they are spaced in such fashionthat the same length gooser brace can be used for any of four steps ofadjustment. The system of the invention provides for highly effectivebracing and quick assembly and disassembly while still being relativelysimple and inexpensive. It is a particular feature of the invention thatthe bracing for one of two facing extension frames is independent of thebracing for the other. so that the two frames can be set and braced atdifferent heights. Another particularly important feature is thatheaders extending between vertical legs of the base and extension framescan be used as attachment points for the braces, making it unnecessaryto provide separate pins or other special means. Other objects andadvantages will appear from the description to follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a view in perspectiveillustrating an adjustable shoring system embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating bracing connections for each offour adjusted positions of an extension frame of the system of FIG. 1,with the extension frame shown schematically laterally ofi'set from itscoplanar positions in FIG. 1 to illustrate the four separate adjustmentsteps,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section, through the plane 3-3shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment of the gooser braces in thesystem of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in cross section illustrating theadjustable support pin arrangement for the extension frames of thesystem of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The system shown in FIG. 1includes a pair of facing base frames 1 and a pair of facing extensionframes 2 interconnected by bracing as will be described. The simplifiedsystem v are in the holes 10a,

shown includes only one base frame 1 under each frame 2, but it will beappreciated that in actual use there will probably be a series'of baseframes 1 stacked atop one another in conventional fashion.

Each base frame 1 includes a pair of parallel tubular vertical legs 3with a fixed X-brace 4 extending between them. Extending between thetops of the legs 3 are a pair of vertically spaced horizontal headers 5which are also suitably permanently fixed in place. Cross braces 6extend between the two base frames 1 and are removably fixed to the legs3 by pins or any other suitable means to form an interconnected baseunit.

Each extension frame 2 has a pair of parallel tubular vertical legs 7slightly smaller in diameter than the tubular legs 3 so as to betelescopically received therein. Fixed to and extending between the topsof the legs 7 are a pair of vertically spaced horizontal headers 8, andfixed diagonal braces 9 extend between the two headers 8 for extrastrength.

As indicated, the extension frame legs 7 are telescopically received inthe base frame legs 3, and the extension frames 2 can thus be verticallyextended and retracted with respect to the base frames 1. The base framelegs 3 are each provided with a series of five equally vertically spacedopenings 10 extending therethrough, and these removably receivetransverse headed support pins 11. When the support pins 11 are in placein particular openings 10, the extension frame legs 7 rest on and aresupported by them, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the choice of theparticular opening 10 will therefore determine the extended height ofthe base frame 2. The support pins 11 can be suitably locked in place bycotter pins (not shown) or other known means extending through theirfree ends. This is a conventional way of adjusting the frames 2; but itwould also be possible to provide a series of openings through the legs7 which could receive pins, in which case the pins would rest on thetops of the legs 3. If desired, mating openings could be providedthrough both the legs 3 .and the legs 7 and the pins could extendthrough both. It is a particular advantage of this invention that theseor any other conventional means of adjusting the extension frames can beused, so long as there are at least 1. The gooser braces 12 are of fixedlength and include shafts 13 provided at each end with hook elements 14which, as illustrated by FIG. 3, hook over respective headers 5 or 8,the headers 5 or 8 thus serving as attachment points for the oppositeends of the goosers 12. L-shaped locking pins I5 carried by laterallyextending, U-shaped brackets 16 on the hook portions 14 are under theheaders when the goosers 12 are in place to prevent them from beingdisengaged. As seen in FIG. 3, a compression spring 17 is disposedaround pin 15 and has its left end seated against a drive pin 17 fixedto the pin 15 and its right end seated against the right leg of thebracket 16. Thus, the pin 15 can be retracted to the right from theposition shown so that the brace 12 can be removed. The construction anduse of gooser braces per se is well known to those skilled in the art,but they have not heretofore been used to brace adjustable extensionframes in the manner to be described.

Since there are five openings 10 in each of the base frame legs 3, theextension frames 2 may be put in any five extended positions withrespect to the base frames 1. When the pins II are in the lowermostopening 10 (these lowermost openings being indicated by the referencenumerals 10') the extension frames 2 are only slightly extended and nobracing is required or provided, so this lowermost position can bedisregarded for the purposes of this invention, leaving four positionsor steps for which there is bracing. For the far left leg 3 as seen inFIG. 1, the remaining four openings 10 have been designated 10a through10d to indicate the successive steps. When the pins 11 the frames 2 arein the lowest braced position, and when they are in openings 10d, theframes 2 are fully extended or in the highest braced position.

The openings 101-1011 provide four equal incremental steps ofadjustment. The headers 5 of the base frames 1 are spaced apart avertical distance equal to two of these adjustment steps, or in otherwords twice the distance between any two adjacent openings 10. Theheaders 8 of each extension frame 2 are spaced apart a distance equal toone step, or in other words the distance between two adjacent openings10. Because of this spacing, gooser braces 12 of the same length can beused to provide bracing for any of the four adjustment steps above thelowermost position, all as illustrated by FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, thereference characters 10a-10d are used to identify the several positionsof the frames 2, these positions corresponding to those assumed when thepins 11 are in these openings. in FIG. 2, the frame 2 is shown laterallymoved for each step for purposes of clarity, but it will be obvious thatit will only move vertically. As can be seen from FIG. 2, when theextension frames 2 are in their first or lowest braced position 10a thegooser braces 12 extend between the uppermost headers 8 of the extensionframes 2 and the lowermost headers 5 of the opposite base frames 1. Whenthe extension frames 2 are then moved upwardly a single step to position10b, the lower ends of the goosers 12 remain on the lower headers 5 ofthe base frames 1 but their upper ends are transferred to the lowerheaders 8 of the extension frames 2. Since the distance between theupper and lower headers 8 of the extension frames 2 is equal to onestep, the length of the gooser brace 12 for a given horizontal spacingbetween the two sets of frames remains the same. Similarly, when theextension frames 2 are moved upwardly to their third adjusted position10c, the lower ends of the gooser braces 12 are attached to the upperheaders 5 of the base frames 1 and the upper ends of the goosers 12 areattached to the upper headers 8 of the extension frames 2. When theextension frames 2 are extended to their fourth or most extendedposition 10d, the gooser braces 12 extend between the upper headers 5and the lower headers 8. Again, for each of the four adjusted positionsfor which bracing is provided gooser braces 12 of the same length can beused for any given horizontal spacing between the opposite sets offrames.

The five-step adjustment of the extension frames 2 obviously providesonly an incremental, rough adjustment, and fine adjustment isaccomplished in conventional fashion by means of upper screwjack such asthe jack 18 in FIG. 1 (there will of course be a jack for each leg 7)and/or base-type screwjacks 19 under the base frame legs 3, all as iswell known to those skilled in the art.

Thus, it is possible with this invention to provide a fully bracedadjustable shoring system which does not require the provision of bracesof varying length or expensive adapter pins or other components. Thegooser braces 12 are easy to attach and remove, but still provide highlyeffective bracing. The entire system is efficient but yet relativelysimple and inexpensive. A particular advantage is that, since thebracing for the two extension frames is independent, the two frames 2can readily be supported at different heights.

While the invention contemplates the use of gooser braces of fixedlength, the braces need not necessarily be incapable of longitudinaladjustment. It may, for example, be desirable to provide adjustablegoosers, which can be made shorter or longer, to provide for bracingwhen the opposite base and extension frames are spaced closer or furtherhorizontally. For a given horizontal spacing, however, gooser braces ofthe same length can be used for all four vertical positions of eachexten sion frame. Thus, references to gooser braces of fixed length" arenot meant to preclude the use of adjustable goosers, but only mean thatgoosers that are of or are set at a certain length can be used toprovide bracing in all four vertical positions.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious that modifications in bothstructure and use might be made without departure from the spirit of theinvention. The invention is obviously applicable to scaffolding or othersystems in addition to shoring systems. Further, although it is aparticular advantage that structural headers can be used as attachmentpoints, pins or other attachment point means could be used instead.While the embodiment shown provides for only four braced steps ofadjustment, it will be obvious that by duplicating parts provision couldbe made for additional braced steps. Means other than the pins 11 andopenings 10 could be used to provide the basic step adjustment; andother variations might be made in the particular configurations of theelements shown. In view of the possible modifications, it is notintended that the invention be limited by the showing herein or in anyother manner except as may specifically be required by the claimsappended hereto.

1 claim:

1. in an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair offacing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames, with oneextension frame being supported on each base frame, the improvementwherein:

at least one of the extension frames is vertically adjustable withrespect to its associated base frame; and there is support meansinterposed between said adjustable extension frame and said associatedbaseframe so that said adjustable extension frame can be supported onsaid associated base frame in any of a series of at least four equallyvertically spaced steps; and said adjustable extension frame and theopposite base frame are each provided with a set of two verticallyspaced attachment point means, the attachment point means on one of saidframes being vertically spaced apart a distance equal to the distancemoved by said adjustable extension frame in one step of adjustment andthe attachment point means on the other of said frames being verticallyspaced apart a distance equal to the distance moved by said adjustableextension frame in two steps of adjustment; and there is a gooser braceof fixed length having opposite ends removably attachable to saidattachment point means, the length of said gooser brace being such thatwhen the said adjustable extension frame is in the lowermost of its fourpositions of adjustment one end thereof can be attached to the lowermostattachment point means of said opposite base frame and the other endthereof can be attached to the uppermost attachment point means of saidadjustable extension frame.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said adjustable extension frame andsaid opposite base frame each have opposite, parallel vertical legs; andall of said attachment point means comprise horizontal headers securedto and extending between said legs.

3. In an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair offacing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames mounted onrespective base frames, the improvement wherein:

there are support means interposed between the base and extension framesso that each extension frame can be mounted on its associated base framein any ofa series of at least four equally vertically spaced steps; andeach of the base and extension frames is provided with a set of twovertically spaced attachment point means; and, with respect to eachextension frame and the opposite base frame, the vertical spacingbetween the attachment point means on one of said frames is equal to thedistance moved by the extension frame in one step of adjustment and thevertical spacing between the attachment point means of the other frameis equal to the distance moved by the extension frame in two steps ofadjustment; and there are at least two gooser braces of fixed lengthhaving opposite ends which are adapted to be removably connected to theattachment point means, there being one gooser brace connected to andextending between one attachment point means of each extension frame andone attachment point means of the opposite base frame, the length of thegooser braces being such that when the extension frame is in thelowermost of its four positions of adjustment the gooser brace isadapted to be connected 4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of theextension and to and extend between the lower attachment point meansbase frames has opposite, parallel vertical legs; and all of the of thebase frame and the upper attachment point means attachment point meanscomprise horizontal headers secured of the extension frame. to andextending between said legs.

1. In an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair offacing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames, with oneextension frame being supported on each base frame, the improvementwherein: at least one of the extension frames is vertically adjustablewith respect to its associated base frame; and there is support meansinterposed between said adjustable extension frame and said associatedbase frame so that said adjustable extension frame can be supported onsaid associated base frame in any of a series of at least four equallyvertically spaced steps; and said adjustable extension frame and theopposite base frame are each provided with a set of two verticallyspaced attachment point means, the attachment point means on one of saidframes being vertically spaced apart a distance equal to the distancemoved by said adjustable extension frame in one step of adjustment andthe attachment point means on the other of said frames being verticallyspaced apart a distance equal to the distance moved by said adjustableextension frame in two steps of adjustment; and there is a gooser braceof fixed length having opposite ends removably attachable to saidattachment point means, the length of said gooser brace being such thatwhen the said adjustable extension frame is in the lowermost of its fourpositions of adjustment one end thereof can be attached to the lowermostattachment point means of said opposite base frame and the other endthereof can be attached to the uppermost attachment point means of saidadjustable extension frame.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherEin saidadjustable extension frame and said opposite base frame each haveopposite, parallel vertical legs; and all of said attachment point meanscomprise horizontal headers secured to and extending between said legs.3. In an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair offacing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames mounted onrespective base frames, the improvement wherein: there are support meansinterposed between the base and extension frames so that each extensionframe can be mounted on its associated base frame in any of a series ofat least four equally vertically spaced steps; and each of the base andextension frames is provided with a set of two vertically spacedattachment point means; and, with respect to each extension frame andthe opposite base frame, the vertical spacing between the attachmentpoint means on one of said frames is equal to the distance moved by theextension frame in one step of adjustment and the vertical spacingbetween the attachment point means of the other frame is equal to thedistance moved by the extension frame in two steps of adjustment; andthere are at least two gooser braces of fixed length having oppositeends which are adapted to be removably connected to the attachment pointmeans, there being one gooser brace connected to and extending betweenone attachment point means of each extension frame and one attachmentpoint means of the opposite base frame, the length of the gooser bracesbeing such that when the extension frame is in the lowermost of its fourpositions of adjustment the gooser brace is adapted to be connected toand extend between the lower attachment point means of the base frameand the upper attachment point means of the extension frame.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3 wherein each of the extension and base frames hasopposite, parallel vertical legs; and all of the attachment point meanscomprise horizontal headers secured to and extending between said legs.